SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCED OPERATOR CONTROL OF FUEL SAVING MODES

• US 20170298849A1
• Filed: 04/15/2016
• Published: 10/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Be, Tuan Anh, Malone, Mark Douglas, Colella, Nicholas, Murray, Allen R.
• Application Number:
  US15/130,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20170298849A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/002 with means for clear vision, e.g. anti-frost or defog panes, rain shields window heating in H05B3/84, H05B3/86
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5678 characterised by electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/604 Engine control mode selected by driver, e.g. to manually start particle filter regeneration or to select driving style
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0814 comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0818 Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0822 related to action of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0837 Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/106 Driver presence, e.g. detected by door lock, seat sensor or belt sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/123 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation systems or GPS signals
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/125 Information about other vehicles, traffic lights or traffic congestion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a system and method for providing enhanced operator-controlled fuel saving modes for a vehicle to optimize fuel economy of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the fuel saving optimization system and method enables the operator to create fuel saving configurations which include operator input as to how to operate one or more devices while the vehicle is within a specific locale and under a specific conditions or in response to specific event occurring. The fuel saving optimization system stores each created fuel saving configuration for a future use, and executes each fuel saving configuration when the vehicle is under the specified conditions. In certain embodiments, the input is provided by the operator in real time or can be retrieved via past travel history data on a particular route which is stored in a database.

Claims

1. A vehicle fuel saving optimization system, comprising:

a processor in communication with a memory storing a fuel saving configuration, the processor configured to;

determine a stored fuel saving configuration is implicated;

compare current vehicle fuel saving settings to the implicated fuel saving configuration; and

activate the fuel saving configuration through a vehicle control system based on the comparison.

2. The vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 1, wherein each fuel saving configuration is associated with a mode of behavior.

3. The vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 1, wherein the mode of behavior includes information about the location of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 2, wherein the processor determines a stored fuel saving configuration is implicated when the processor determines the vehicle has entered a mode of behavior associated with a stored fuel saving configuration.

5. The vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 2, wherein each fuel saving configuration includes a trigger.

6. The vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 5, wherein each trigger is associated with one or more configurable devices.

7. The vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 5, wherein the process activates the fuel saving configuration upon detection of the trigger occurring when the vehicle is within the mode of operation.

8. The vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further in communication with an interface.

9. The vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 8, wherein the interface is configured to transmit operator inputs regarding fuel saving configuration information to a vehicle control system.

10. The vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to provide fuel saving information to an operator based prior saved fuel saving configurations.

11. A method of operating a vehicle fuel saving optimization system, comprising:

storing a fuel saving configuration in a memory;

determining, by a processor, that the stored fuel saving configuration is implicated;

comparing, by the processor, current vehicle fuel saving settings to the implicated fuel saving configuration; and

activating the fuel saving configuration through a vehicle control system based on the comparison.

12. The method of operating the vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 11, wherein each fuel saving configuration is associated with a mode of behavior.

13. The method of operating the vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 11, wherein the mode of behavior includes information about the location of the vehicle.

14. The method of operating the vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 12, wherein the processor determines a stored fuel saving configuration is implicated when the processor determines the vehicle has entered a mode of behavior associated with a stored fuel saving configuration.

15. The method of operating the vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 12, wherein each fuel saving configuration includes a trigger.

16. The method of operating the vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 15, wherein each trigger is associated with one or more configurable devices.

17. The method of operating the vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 15, wherein the process activates the fuel saving configuration upon detection of the trigger occurring when the vehicle is within the mode of operation.

18. The method of operating the vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further in communication with an interface.

19. The method of operating the vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 18, wherein the interface is configured to transmit operator inputs regarding fuel saving configuration information to a vehicle control system.

20. The vehicle fuel saving optimization system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to provide fuel saving information to an operator based prior saved fuel saving configurations.